The number 1 reason New Years resolutions don't work is that we are not created to go more than 24 hours without a fresh start ... without  fresh grace!  I am so delighted that Jesus won a salvation for you and I that is soaked in ... Love, grace and mercy EVERYDAY.  I couldn't imagine messing up / disappointing / tripping up and then having to wait to Jan 1st next year to get a fresh start!  Lam 3:19 - 24 has long been a favorite portion of scripture for me!  As we go into the new year let us "Call this to mind" ... "Because of His great love we are not consumed, for His compassions NEVER fail. They are new EVERY morning; GREAT is your faithfulness. I say to myself The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him"  Let's trust / believe / pray for big things EVERYDAY as we enjoy His love mercy and grace EVERYDAY!

The Problem w/ Prayer!

The problem with prayer is, for the most part, we have reduced it to a program, a meeting, a conversation or a concept! I am stirred this morning by Luke 18:2-8, the story of the persistent widow who kept "bothering" the judge until he gave her justice. Jesus then earths it for us wonderfully by saying "And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night". Now we would be in bondage if we made this about our prayer, our effort! The point is simply that prayer is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of believers and leaders! This is what Leonard Ravenhill has to say about it in his book Why Revival Tarries. "The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying." He goes on to say ... "We have many organizers but few agonizers; many singers few clingers; many Pastors few wrestlers; many fears few years; much fashion little passion; many interferers few intercessors. Failing here we fail everywhere"  As I read this scripture and these words I am challenged to take prayer out of the "program", to take prayer out of the meeting, to stop talking about and conceptualizing it and to put prayer back in its rightful place as the language and culture of every believer and every church!

Keep on Asking ... Keep on seeking ... Keep on knocking

Most often churches / movements / men that God uses to usher in revival / restoration / release are birthed, founded and continuously found in the place of prayer.  Prayer declares and demonstrates our absolute dependence and reliance on Him. Focuses our thoughts, actions and hearts on His purposes and plans, and increases our desire to play our part in His redemptive plan.  I am stirred this morning by the encouragement of Luke 11:5-10 ... In these few Scriptures Jesus asks us to "Keep on asking" ... "Keep on knocking" ... "Keep on seeking" as Wiersbe puts it "Don't come to God only in the midnight emergencies but keep in constant communion with your Father"  My prayer this morning: May prayer move from something we do to very nature and culture of who we are. May prayer move from a time slot and a program to an attitude and language.